Team History

How CB East Boys’ Lacrosse Came To Be

the first twelve years … 2013 edition

CB East Boys' Lacrosse, as we know it today, did not just “happen” by chance. It is the result of the vision and hard work by many stakeholders going back fourteen years as of this writing. What follows is a brief synopsis of how it came to be as well as key events that followed. Enjoy!

1998

A high school level club lacrosse team, called the Central Bucks Lacrosse Club was started by Mr. Walt Szambelak. The club included players from Central Bucks West High School, a handful from Central Bucks East High School, and even fewer from the New Hope/Solebury High School. In its first season that year, the club played other area high school club teams, as well as a few established varsity teams.

1999

With the growth of lacrosse exploding nationally and locally, the number of high school youth and high school age players was rising at a like pace. The Central Bucks Lacrosse Club split into two club teams, with the original Central Bucks Lacrosse Club consisting of all CB West players, and a new club, the“Centaurs,” under the direction of Bruce Garcia as Head Coach. The Centaurs were predominantly comprised of players from CB East High School and a few from New Hope/Solebury. They were actually part of the Central Bucks Athletic Association (CBAA). Again, this season was club play, with no affiliation with CB East High School. The Centaurs played other area high school club teams, as well as a few established varsity teams.

With the exponential rise in interest and participation in youth lacrosse in Central Bucks that year, it became apparent that there would be an evitable demand for sanctioned varsity lacrosse at the high school level. A small core group of local lacrosse enthusiasts began a serious effort to

have boys’ lacrosse become a sanctioned and official varsity sport in the Central Bucks School District. It was a daunting task, with many obstacles.

2000

The level of participation in the Centaurs continued to expand, and the club played its second season.

2001

On January 23, 2001, after a 2-year effort, the School Board of the Central Bucks School District voted with overwhelming support to make boys’ lacrosse a sanctioned and official varsity sport. The Board’s vote was 8 - yes, 0 - no, and 1-abstention. It was a great milestone. The affected high schools at the time were CB East and West. CB South did not yet exist.

The team officially became the CB East Patriots, and the Centaurs ceased operations. The initial Patriot uniform came to be, complete with school colors.

However, with varsity status having been awarded just months before, there simply wasn’t enough time to prepare for a spring 2001 season as part of the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association (EPSLA). At the time, the EPSLA was the governing body for boys’ lacrosse (including high school interscholastic) in the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association Chapter area of US Lacrosse. The EPSLA included public, private and parochial school teams, which reflected the history of the growth of the game at the high school level in eastern Pennsylvania.

In 2001 the Patriots played a schedule consisting of a mixture of club and varsity teams. Varsity and Junior varsity letters were awarded at the conclusion of the season for the first time as well.

2002

This was the first season in which the CB East Patriots officially competed in sanctioned interscholastic play as part of the EPSLA, in an“independent” league. This was the first season that the Patriots were able to contend for the EPSLA and state championships. The schedule consisted of league as well as non-league opponents, but all varsity teams.

At the time, the champions of the three governing bodies for high school play in Pennsylvania -- theEPSLA, CPSLA (Central Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association), and the WPSLA (Western Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association) -- played every year in early June for the “Keystone Cup,” which was awarded to the best boys’ high school team in the Commonwealth.

The team’s record was 9-8-0 that first year, and they placed second in the Archbishop Ryan Tournament. While CB East won its league championship, it did not qualify for the EPSLA championship tournament.

2004

The Patriots began playing in a new league called “Bucks-Mont.”

2005

The Suburban One League (SOL) became the new home of Patriots’ lacrosse.

2006

In October 2006, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) voted to sanction boys’ lacrosse in Pennsylvania, effective July 1, 2008. Beginning with the 2009 spring sports season, all schools sponsoring lacrosse and their players were required to comply with all PIAA standards. This development promised to alter the boys’ high school lacrosse landscape in the years ahead.

2007

The Suburban One League split into 3 conferences, with the Patriots being in the Continental Conference.

2009

All PIAA schools sponsoring lacrosse and their players were required to comply with all PIAA standards. Non-PIAA schools began making adjustments to thrive in the new Pennsylvania lacrosse world order.

The PIAA held its first state championship tournament .In a game that featured two nationally ranked teams, LaSalle topped Conestoga to claim the title. The PIAA sponsors only one state championship division for boys and girls. It will not sponsor class designations (i.e., AA, AAA, AAAA) until a certain number of teams across the state play the game.

Summary

In terms of “lacrosse-years” it has been a relative short history for the CB East Patriots. Over the first eleven years their evolution, progression and record of accomplishment is something of shared pride for all …. players, coaches, parents,school District personnel, and the community at large. At a glance, those accomplishments include ….

·Overall record (regular and post-season playcombined) of
165-46-0, a 78% win rate

·Regular season record (league and non-leagueplay combined) of
147-35-0, a 81% win rate

·League play only record of 104-10-0, a win rateof 91%

·Won their league championship in 10 of 11 years

·A perennial participant in post-season play,earning a place in the playoffs in 9 of 11 years, and multiple trips to thequarter and semi-finals

·Reaching the state championship semi-finals in 2011

·47 players, or 36% of the graduating seniors, have gone on to begin their college careers playing NCAA Division I, II or III lacrosse

Over 650 player-seasons have taken place from 2002 through 2012. More important than any of the above statistics is that the character and health of those players has been positively shaped by the experiences, work ethic, struggles and rewards of participation in this beautiful and intense athletic team sport. Let’s all trust that they are better people for it.